Metal packaging with tubular part

ABSTRACT

The metal packaging includes a tubular part ( 1 ) defining a longitudinal axis ( 1′ ), which tubular part ( 1 ) includes a one-piece annular structure ( 10 ) made up of one moulding ( 11 ) or of several mouldings ( 11 ) which are formed on a plane ( 13 ) running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ( 1′ ) and on the circumference of the tubular part ( 1 ) to form an annular lower surface ( 12 ) against which a handling member is intended to rest.

The present invention relates to the field of packages, and in particular the field of metal packages.

The design of a package must take into account the constraints linked to its manufacturing, but also to its numerous handling operations at the filler, from its receiving to the final packaging operations.

Moreover, the packages, according to their constitutive materials, are obtained by techniques of manufacturing that generate structural constraints leading to the implementation of conveying installations that are respectively dedicated thereto.

In this respect, the tubular part forming the mouth of the packages (such as bottles or vials) made of plastic material generally includes an annular flange, protruding from the circumference, called “transport ring”, useful for their individual handling.

These plastic-material packages may hence be held, handled and/or transferred thanks to the positioning of a generally fork-shaped handling member, in rest under this transport ring.

In practice, for such plastic packages, the mouth and its transport ring are formed simultaneously, for example on a preform (semi-finished part obtained by injection) before an injection-blowing or extrusion-blowing finishing.

The packages made of metal material, for example steel or aluminium, are devoid of such an annular planar flange due to the technical constraints linked to the metal shaping.

The manufacturing, the handling and the filling of such metal packages hence lead to the implementation of dedicated handling means.

Hence, for the filler, switching from plastic packages to metal packages require important investments, in particular for the transformation of the handling means.

Taking into account what is mentioned above, the applicant has developed a new structure of metal package that is adapted to be handled within an installation commonly dedicated to the plastic packages.

For that purpose, the metal package according to the invention includes a tubular part defining a longitudinal axis, which tubular part includes an integral annular structure consisted of one or several beads that are formed in a plane extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and at the circumference of said tubular part, to form a lower annular surface against which a handling member is intended to rest.

The bead(s) are advantageously formed in protrusion towards the inside (“inward”) and/or towards the outside (“outward”) of the tubular part.

According to a particular embodiment, the integral annular structure includes a continuous annular bead extending over the whole circumference of the tubular part. In this case, the continuous annular bead has the shape of an open rib, opening towards the inside or towards the outside of the tubular part; as an alternative, this continuous annular bead has the shape of a closed rib, constituting an integral collar, protruding outwardly, which is formed of two planar annular flanges in rest against each other and connected by a peripheral folding line.

According to another embodiment, the integral annular structure includes at least one variation of curvature in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis passing through said annular structure.

This integral annular structure has hence discontinuities of curvature, with advantageously a variation of the horizontal radial distance about the horizontal axis.

This embodiment aims to introduce, at one or several points of the circumference of the tubular part, a geometrical discontinuity at the integral annular structure, in particular a geometrical discontinuity in the bead, in at least one of the beads or between two beads, which allows to consolidate this part of the package and to significantly increase the resistance to vertical force.

This discontinuity may take the form of more or less complex curves, and preferentially non-beaded sections of the tubular part (or vertical segments) extending in the continuity of the shape of the portions of the tubular part located above and below this integral annular structure. In other words, the initial section of the tubular part is deformed so as to form the bead(s) intended to constitute the integral annular structure.

In this case, the integral annular structure comprises at least one bead extending over only a portion of the circumference of the tubular part.

This integral annular structure advantageously includes several beads that are distributed over the circumference of the tubular part, regularly or not-regularly (homogeneously or not-homogeneously).

Preferably, the integral annular structure includes beads that each protrude towards the outside, and that are regularly distributed over the circumference of the tubular part, in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis passing by said annular structure.

Preferably, the integral annular structure includes one or several notches, formed on the bead and/or on at least one of the beads and/or separating two beads; these notches have advantageously a vertical or at least approximately vertical axis and are advantageously formed by a non-beaded segment of the tubular part.

Preferably, one notch is formed inwards for one or several outward beads; one notch is formed outwards for one or several inward beads.

The bottom of the notch or of at least one of the notches extends in the circumference, or at least approximately in the circumference, of the tubular part.

According to a particular embodiment, the metal package consists in a container (for example a bottle) including a neck forming said tubular part; and this neck is ended by a mouth provided with an upper portion for receiving a plug and a lower portion including the integral annular structure.

The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a metal package as defined hereinabove, said method consists in:

(a) manufacturing the tubular part of said package, and

(b) locally deforming said tubular part to form the integral annular structure consisted of one or several beads.

The invention will be further illustrated, without being limited in anyway, by the following description in relation with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a general and perspective view of a tubular part forming the neck of a package, the mouth of which is provided with an integral annular structure consisted of a continuous annular bead in the form of an open rib whose convexity is directed towards the outside;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the mouth of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical-section and partial view of a tubular part similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2, at the integral annular structure that is herein of curved section;

FIG. 4 is a vertical-section view of a variant of embodiment of FIG. 3, in which the integral annular structure consists in an open rib, herein of dihedral section;

FIG. 5 is a vertical-section view of another variant of embodiment of FIG. 3, in which the integral annular structure consists in a closed rib, herein of planar section, corresponding to a “squeezed” bead, also called “compressed bead”;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mouth of another possible embodiment of a package according to the invention, herein provided with several beads each extending over an angular sector of its circumference;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the mouth of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a detailed and enlarged view of FIG. 7, showing the non-beaded segment of the mouth separating two beads;

FIGS. 9 to 14 are perspective views of a tubular part of a metal package, each illustrating a particular arrangement of the beads constituting the integral annular structure;

FIG. 15 is a top view of a tubular part of a metal package, whose integral annular structure comprises beads separated by regularly-distributed notches;

FIG. 16 schematically shows some possible shapes for the notches, viewed from above;

FIG. 17 shows a variant of embodiment of the invention, according to a vertical-section plane, in which the integral annular structure comprises at least one bead consisting in an outwardly-open rib.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a part of a metal package.

Such a metal package is for example made of aluminium or steel.

This metal package advantageously consists in a vessel or container, intended to receive for example a product that is liquid (in particular, drinks), pasty or solid (in particular, powders or granulates).

Such a metal package consists for example in a bottle, a vial or a can.

This package advantageously comprises a body or belly (not shown), topped with a tubular part 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2) forming a neck, ended by a mouth 2 opening at a terminal opening 3.

The tubular part 1 has a longitudinal axis 1′, herein oriented vertically.

This tubular part 1 is consisted by an integral metal wall 4 that defines its circumference and that delimits an inner duct C (FIG. 3).

The horizontal section of this tubular part 1, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 1′, is herein circular in shape, but it could also be oval, rectangular or square, for example.

The upper end 5 of the tubular part 1 is herein consisted by a peripheral rim directed towards the outside, delimiting the terminal opening 3 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

On the side of this upper end 5, an upper portion 2 a of the mouth 2 includes means for receiving a plug (not shown), herein an helical thread 6.

Remote from this same upper end 5, a lower portion 2 b of the mouth 2 (located directly below the upper portion 2 a) includes an integral annular structure 10 consisted of a bead 11 to form an annular lower surface 12 against which a handling member can come in rest.

This handling member (not shown) has advantageously a fork shape, of the type conventionally met in the field of the handling of plastic bottles provided with a transport ring.

In this regard, the bead 11 is formed in a plane 13 (FIG. 2) extending perpendicular to the above-mentioned longitudinal axis 1′ and over the circumference of the tubular part 1.

By “bead”, it is meant in particular a ribbing in the integral metal wall 4, recessed or in relief, obtained for example by coining or embossing.

The bead 11 is continuous, extended over the whole circumference of the tubular part 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the continuous annular bead 11 is herein arranged in protrusion towards the outside of the tubular part 1.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, this continuous annular bead 11 has the shape of an open rib, opening towards the inside of the tubular part 1.

The vertical section of this continuous annular bead 11 is identical or at least approximately identical over its circumference, without geometrical break (FIG. 3).

According to FIG. 3, this vertical section is herein of curved shape, for example a semi-circle or a semi-oval, whose convexity is oriented towards the outside.

The lower annular surface 12 is hence formed by approximately the lower half of this continuous annular bead 11.

FIG. 4 shows a variant of embodiment of a continuous annular bead 11 constituting an integral annular structure 10.

The section of this continuous annular bead 11 is herein consisted of two segments:

-   -   an inclined upper segment 14, diverging from the longitudinal         axis 1′ from the top to the bottom, and     -   a horizontal lower segment 15, extending perpendicular to the         longitudinal axis 1′ and whose lower face forms the lower         annular surface 12 for the handling.

In other words, the continuous annular bead 11 is consisted of an upper truncated portion and a lower portion in the form of a horizontal flange.

According to still another embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the continuous annular bead 11 has the shape of a closed rib, forming an integral collar protruding outwardly.

Such a continuous annular rib 11, also called “compressed bead”, is formed of two planar annular flanges 16 in rest against each other, a lower one that forms the annular lower surface 12 for the handling, and an upper one, the both being connected by a peripheral folding line 17.

FIG. 6 to 8 show another embodiment of the invention, in which the integral annular structure 10 includes, over the circumference of the tubular part 1, at least one variation of curvature in the plane 13 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 1′ passing by said annular structure 10.

Such an embodiment allows to strengthen the mouth 2 of the package, and to significantly increase the resistance to vertical force at this integral annular structure 10.

For that purpose, the integral annular structure 10 comprises a “discontinuous bead” 11 extending over the circumference of the tubular part 1.

This integral annular structure 10 hence includes several distinct beads 11 that are distributed, homogeneously or regularly, over the circumference of the tubular part 1. In this case, these beads 11 each extend over a portion of the circumference of the tubular part 1.

The integral annular structure 10 herein includes three beads 11, each generally extending in a horizontal angular sector of the order of 5° to 120°, and preferably each in a horizontal angular sector of the order of 60° to 110°.

These beads 11 each protrude outwardly, and are regularly distributed over the circumference of the tubular part 1 and in the plane 13 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 1′.

The beads 11 form together the lower resting surface 12; the latter is herein discontinuous, formed by the lower surface of these different beads 11.

The vertical section of these beads 11 may be customized, for example curved or dihedral, as described hereinabove.

These beads 11 are separated, two-by-two, by a notch 20 consisting in a non-beaded segment of the tubular part 1 (herein three in number).

These non-beaded segments 20 hence form strengthening zones for the integral annular structure 10 relative to the vertical forces.

Each non-beaded segment 20 consists in a segment of the mouth 2 (or of the tubular part 1) extending according to a vertical axis 20′ (FIG. 8) and in the continuity of the section of the portions located directly above and below this mouth 2 (without discontinuity or break of the section).

These non-beaded segments 20 hence extend in the circumference of the tubular part 1.

Likewise, the bottom 20 a of each notch 20 hence advantageously extends in the circumference of the tubular part 1.

Each notch 20 is delimited laterally by the opposite ends 20 b of two juxtaposed beads 11.

In a horizontal section, the ends 20 b of each notch 20 extends for example parallel relative to each other, or diverge towards the periphery, as illustrated hereinafter in relation with FIG. 16. Each notch 20 may also exhibit an arc-of-a-circle-shaped section.

The method for manufacturing the metal package according to the invention advantageously comprises the following steps:

(a) manufacturing the tubular part 1 of the package, and

(b) forming the integral annular structure 10 in said tubular part 1, to form the bead(s) 11, for example by an operation of local and discontinuous shaping of the different beads.

FIGS. 9 to 14 show examples of variants of embodiment of this integral annular structure 10 including several beads 11 directed outwardly, and separated two-by-two by a non-beaded segment 20 of the tubular part 1.

In these figures, the integral annular structures 10 respectively include:

-   -   FIG. 9: three beads 11 each extending in a horizontal angular         sector of the order of 60° to 100°, separated by non-beaded         sections 20 each extending in a horizontal angular sector of the         order of 20° to 60°;     -   FIG. 10: six beads 11 each extending in a horizontal angular         sector of the order of 30° to 55°, separated by non-beaded         sections 20 each extending in a horizontal angular sector of the         order of 5° to 30°;     -   FIG. 11: three beads 11 each extending in a horizontal angular         sector of the order of 30° to 60°, separated by non-beaded         sections 20 each extending in a horizontal angular sector of the         order of 60° to 90°;     -   FIG. 12: six beads 11 each extending in a horizontal angular         sector of the order of 30° to 50°, separated by non-beaded         sections 20 each extending in a horizontal angular sector of the         order of 10° to 30°;     -   FIG. 13: three beads 11 each extending in a horizontal angular         sector of the order of 10° to 30°, separated by non-beaded         sections 20 each extending in a horizontal angular sector of the         order of 90° to 110°;     -   FIG. 14: six beads 11 each extending in a horizontal angular         sector of the order of 10° to 30°, separated by non-beaded         sections 20 each extending in a horizontal angular sector of the         order of 30° to 50°.

FIG. 15 still shows, in top view, a peripheral annular structure 10 including several beads 11 separated by notches 20.

In this FIG. 15, it can be seen that the bottom 20 a of each notch 20 extends advantageously in the circumference of the mouth 2.

As an alternative, this bottom 20 a of each inward notch 20 may extend:

-   -   in a first case, in the annular space defined by the beads 11         and remote from the circumference of the mouth 2, corresponding         to a kind of partial embossing, as shown by the bottom denoted         by the reference 20 a 1, or     -   in a second case, in the inner volume defined by the tubular         part 1, as shown by the bottom denoted by the reference 20 a 2.

In the first case, the integral annular structure 10 consists in a kind of continuous annular bead 11 in which is arranged a plurality of notches 20.

In the second case, the integral annular structure includes an alternation of beads protruding inwardly and outwardly; it is hence obtained a combination of inward/outward beads with respect to the tubular part.

The manufacturing of such an integral annular structure advantageously comprises—an operation of shaping a continuous annular bead, followed by—an operation of shaping the notch(es), for example by embossing.

It is hence obtained a kind of continuous annular bead 11 that is interrupted locally, and over its circumference, by notches 20.

These notches 20, viewed from above, may have any other shape obtained by a suitable tooling, as illustrated in FIG. 16.

Hence, these notches 20 may have, for example, a rectangular shape (A or B), a trapezoidal shape (C or D) or an arc-of-a-circle shape (E).

FIG. 17 shows a variant of embodiment of the invention, in which the integral annular structure 10 comprises a bead 11 consisting in an outwardly-open rib.

This bead 11 is herein in the form of a continuous annular bead, generating a lower rest surface 12. In variations of embodiment, it may also be contemplated a plurality of outwardly-open beads, which are arranged in the same plane perpendicular to the axis of the mouth and which are separated by non-beaded segments or by outwardly protruding beads.

Generally, the metal package according to the invention is simple to handle, in particular in an installation that is usually dedicated to the handling of plastic packages. 

1. A metal package including a tubular part (1) defining a longitudinal axis (1′), characterized in that said tubular part (1) includes an integral annular structure (10) consisted of one bead (11) or several beads (11) that are formed in a plane (13) extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (1′) and at the circumference of said tubular part (1), to form a lower annular surface (12) against which a handling member is intended to rest.
 2. The metal package according to claim 1, characterized in that the integral annular structure (10) includes one or several beads (11) formed in protrusion towards the inside and/or towards the outside of the tubular part (1).
 3. The metal package according to claim 1, characterized in that the integral annular structure (10) includes a continuous annular bead (11) extending over the whole circumference of the tubular part (1).
 4. The metal package according to claim 3, characterized in that the continuous annular bead (11) has the shape of an open rib, opening towards the inside or towards the outside of the tubular part (1).
 5. The metal package according to claim 3, characterized in that the continuous annular bead (11) has the shape of a closed rib, constituting an integral collar, protruding outwardly, which is formed of two planar annular flanges (16) in rest against each other and connected by a peripheral folding line (17).
 6. The metal package according to claim 1, characterized in that the integral annular structure (10) includes at least one variation of curvature (20) in the plane (13) passing through said annular structure (10).
 7. The metal package according to claim 6, characterized in that the integral annular structure (10) comprises at least one bead (11) extending over only a portion of the circumference of the tubular part (1).
 8. The metal package according to claim 7, characterized in that the integral annular structure (10) includes several beads (11) that are distributed over the circumference of the tubular part (1).
 9. The metal package according to claim 6, characterized in that the integral annular structure (10) includes one or several notches (20).
 10. The metal package according to claim 9, characterized in that the bottom (20 a) of the notch (20) or of at least one of the notches (20) extends in the circumference, or at least approximately in the circumference, of the tubular part (1).
 11. The metal package according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists in a container including a neck (1) forming said tubular part, and in that said neck (1) is ended by a mouth (2) provided with an upper portion (2 a) for receiving a plug and a lower portion (2 b) including the integral annular structure (10).
 12. A method for manufacturing a metal package according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists in: (a) manufacturing the tubular part (1) of the package, and (b) locally deforming said tubular part (1) to form the integral annular structure (10) consisted of one or several beads (11).
 13. The metal package according to claim 2, characterized in that the integral annular structure (10) includes a continuous annular bead (11) extending over the whole circumference of the tubular part (1).
 14. The metal package according to claim 2, characterized in that the integral annular structure (10) includes at least one variation of curvature (20) in the plane (13) passing through said annular structure (10).
 15. The metal package according to claim 7, characterized in that the integral annular structure (10) includes one or several notches (20).
 16. The metal package according to claim 8, characterized in that the integral annular structure (10) includes one or several notches (20). 